A Concierge Turned Travel Influencer

Our Los Angeles Chapter member Sarah Dandashy is an award-winning concierge, who aims to show a different side to the hospitality community through her Ask a Concierge video series.

Hotel Insiders is a series of interviews to showcase hospitality leaders and innovators in the hotel industry to the Travel Massive community.

In this interview – we asked to Sarah about how she got started in the hospitality industry and her goal to inspire travelers to appreciate the little things and see the industry with different eyes. 

What sparked your passion to the travel industry?

Being half-Lebanese, I traveled extensively as a kid. Travel, you can say, was in my DNA. I began working in hotels while attending Georgetown University. When I moved to LA, I was given a chance to be a concierge — and voila! 13 years later….

How did you create “Ask a Concierge”?

Ask A Concierge (askaconcierge.tv) was a happy accident.

I was taking a writing course and had to do a vlog. I decide to talk about things to do in LA – which I was convinced was going to be SO boring! Well, I was wrong.

Shortly after putting out my first few videos, I realized I was on to something.

It became a passion as it combined my love for making videos and what I did on a daily basis!

From your experience, what’s one thing the hospitality industry can improve on?

This is tough as there are a lot of areas in which the hospitality sector can improve. I think one of the main issues is allowing hospitality workers appropriate time off.

The hospitality industry runs 24/7 and it is impossible to give people the time off that other industries often are able to provide. Hospitality workers usually have to work nights, weekends, holidays – it’s brutal. So hopefully there can be an effort for a better work/life balance!

What is your advice to all young professionals pursuing a career in tourism?

My advice for young professionals is to get hands-on experience. The best way to find out what works for you, what you are passionate about, and how you can best thrive in tourism is simply by getting started. Dipping your toes in and exploring all the options that you can.

The great thing about the tourism industry is that there are lots of opportunity for upwards growth… and in some cases, you can even start your own business.

Of course, it is always great to get a degree in tourism or hospitality – but nothing beats real-life experience. I always suggest to network as much as possible, attend events, and never burn bridges. You never know who will be your next ally or your future. Be honest with yourself as to as WHY you are pursuing a career in tourism.

Are you hoping for a career with a lot of travel? Not all positions in tourism guarantee that you travel. In fact, most don’t include a lot of travel. Tourism is really about service and hospitality, so I urge young professionals to really think about that. Also, patience and people skills are a must–they are essential to hospitality.

You travel a lot – what are some great examples of tourism businesses around the world?

As Maya Angelou said:

“…people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

This is what the tourism and hospitality industry are all about.

Personally, I love the little touch at the One & Only Palmilla in Cabo, where employees put their hand over their heart and slightly bow to guests — there’s something incredible about that! It’s touching.

I also love what Airbnb is doing with their Experiences – allowing locals and visitors to go beyond traditional tourism offerings. We are living in an exciting time where travel has become more accessible than ever!

  Check out Sarah’s Youtube channel where she shares answers to the the questions most frequently asked of concierges:

Connect with Sarah on Travel Massive and follow her project Ask a Concierge on Facebook and Twitter.